Jodie Kidd named ‘Beer Drinker of the Year’

Celebrity pub owner Jodie Kidd has been named 2019 Beer Drinker of the Year by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) at a ceremony earlier this week.

Kidd started her career as a model at the age of 15, became a racing driver, television presenter, Strictly Come Dancing competitor, Celebrity Master Chef Finalist before becoming a pub landlady.

Presenting the award​

On announcing the award, APPBG chairman Mike Wood said: “Jodie has been a tireless campaigner for UK beer and pubs.

“Last October she led a delegation of brewers and fellow publicans to deliver a petition with over 100,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street that had been collected as part of the Long Live the Local Campaign.”

The campaign pushed the Government to reduce the high levels of tax paid by beer drinkers in the pub.

“Jodie is vivid proof that beer and pub lovers are not all old, male and stale,” continued Wood.

Other awards presented at the dinner included:

Brewer of the Year: Jane Kershaw, Joseph Holt Brewery

Lifetime Achievement: Maureen Heffernan

Beer Parliamentarian of the Year: Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley

Pub Parliamentarian of the Year: Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield

PubAid Award: Cameron’s Brewery Limited

Last year’s Beer Drinker of the Year was Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Candice Brown, who recently opened her own pub.